Can-opener.



W. B; MILLER.

CAN OPENER. uruomxou FILED we. a, 1909.

PatentedJan 31,1911.

WILLIAM: B. MILLER, F SGOT'IDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAN-GPENER.

esaico.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

Application filed August 3, 1909. Serial No. 511,006.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. ldnmnn, a citizen of the United States. residing at Scottdale, in the county of il 'cstniorelaud, State of Pennsylvania, have invent ed certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Uponers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains t make and use the same.

The invention relates to a can opener and more particularly to the class of devices for severing the tops of cans from the can body.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a can opener of simple, durable, and eiiicicnt construction, by means of which cans of varying sizes and shapes may be readily and quickly opened so that the contents thereof, may be dispensed from the can body.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a can opener in which the cutting member thereof is free to adjust itself so that it will cut the top of a receptacle or the like to enable the contents thereof to be discharged from the same and this cutting member is provided with a guide so that the cutting member will follow the edge of a. can when severing its top.

Vl ith these and other objects in view, the invention in the accomplishment thereof consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail illus trated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred form of embodiment of the invention to enable those skilled in the art to practice the same and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

It is to be understood however, that minor changes, variations and modifications may be made, such as come properly within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawings z-Figure 1 is a plan view of a can opener constructed in accordance with the invention showing the application of the same. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of a can with the invention in operative position thereon. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. t is a detail perspective view of one of the spikes or spurs. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cutter member detached. 6 is a bottom plan view of the cutter member.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, (3 designates a can of sheet metal or other suitable materialupon which the opener as will be hereinafter described is designed to operate, said can being provided with the usual circular top or lid '7, which is con nectcd to the can body in the usual ordinary manner.

The can opener comprises a pair of pivotal arms 8 and 9 each of which is formed of a single strand of rigid wire bent to form an elongated loop having spaced parallel guide portions 10, the ends of the wire being united in any suitable manner and a slight distance removed therefrom contracted as at 11 to form an eye 12, and these eyes of the arms register with each other and engage an annular groove formed near the head of a centering pin or spike 13, the latter forming the pivotal connection for the arms. The pin 13 is provided with an annular shoulder 13 which forms a bearing for the pin 13 when inserted in the top of a can and also limits the insertion of the pin to hold the arms 8 and 9 elevated a distance above the can top so that the said arms will not contact with the outer face of the can top thus overcoming friction between the can top and the arm 9 when the latter is being moved.

Loosely connected to the parallel portion 10, of the arm 8, and slidable thereon is a rotatable spike or pin 1%, the latter being adapted to be inserted in the top of the can near the peripheral edge thereof to attach the can opener to the top or lid of the can and thereby permit cutting operation of the same.

Slidably connected to the other arm 9, and loosely engaging the guide portions 10, thereof is freely movable block or slide member 15, the latter having formed integral therewith a depending guide car 16, provided with a convened inner bearing surface 17, adapted to frictionally engage the peripheral edge of the can (5, when the opener is being operated.

Secured to the slidable block 15, directly opposite the guide cars 16, is a cutter blade 18, which latter is adapted to penetrate the can top or lid 7, and when traversing the same will sever it from the can body. It is obvious that due to the loose connection of the slidable block 15, with the arm 9, the same will permit the blade to follow the contour of the can body irrespective of the shape thereof.

It is thought the construction and operation of the invention will be clear withoutthe requirement of a more extended expla nation and therefore the same has been omitted.

It is obvious that the outer portions of the arms 8 and 9 serve as handles or gripping extremities for the operator.

This cutter blade 18 has a triangular shaped portion and from the center of its upper edges rises a shank portion 19 through which are passed detachable fasteners 20 the same being engaged in the block 15 so that when it is desired the blade may be readily detached or removed from the block to enable it to be resharpened or a new one placed in its stead.

hat is claimed is In a can opener, a pivot pin having circumseribing grooves therein, a pair of wire I 1 I I;

levers having twisted inner ends, the twisted end of one lever being disposed in the outer groove of the pivot pin and the twisted end of the other lever being disposed in the other groove of the pivot pins, the levers being provided with parallel bars and being capa ble of independent movement on said pivot pin, a pin having a head and curved arms mounted by said curved arms on the par allel bars of one of the levers, said pin being adapted to penetrate the end wall of a can and hold said lever against movement on a can, and a cutter member having transversely spaced openings mounted on the other lever with the parallel bars of said lever extending through said opening, said cutter member being provided with a depending guide portion adapted to engage the edge of can when the point of the cutter member is inserted in the end wall of a can.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

lVILLIAM B. MILLER. Vitnesses G. L. HoLTZnIz, lVar. EBERHART. 

